Apparatus for cleaning gold, silver, and other metal ware.



J. M. HOTOHKISS. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GOLD, SILVER, AND 0mm METAL WARE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 12, 1912.

Patented July 22, 1913.

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APPARATUS ron CLEANING com), SILVER, Ann ornnn. ranran wean.

1,068,388. Specification of Letters Patent Fatentetl Jelly 22, 1M3.

Application filed April 12, 1912. Serial No. 690,224.

To all whom'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. Ho'romnss, a citizen ofv the United States, residing at Burlingtom-in the countyiof Chittenden and State of Yermont, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for (/leaning;Gold, Silver, and other Metal \Vare,-ofivhich the following is a specification lhis invcution'relates to an apparatus or means for cleaning gold, silver and other metal ware, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, cheap and etlicientmethod {and means for rapidly cleaning mctalsjby electrolysis.

In the accompanying drawing,Figure l a perspective view showing the mode of cleaning a piece of metal ware. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal and transverse sections through the battery element employed.

In carrying my invention into practice, I employ a battery element comprising a traylike body 1, preferably of oblong rectangular or similar form, and having upwardly projecting side and end walls 2 and 3, fornr ing a shallow pan-shaped support. The end walls 2 of this support are provided with grooves 4 in which are fitted and suitably secured the downwardly bent ends of a series of wires" 5 extending longitudinally above the body 1 and providingra grate-like surface on which the metallic article or articles 6 to be cleansed are placed. As shown, the downwardly bent ends of the wires preferably project through the bottom of the body and form legs to support the body at an elevation, to enable the electrolyte to come in contact with all surfaces thereof. The body 1 is made of zinc and the Wires 6 composing the rack are made of copper.

In carrying out the process, I first prepare an electrolytic bath or solution formed of ordinary table salt (chlorid'of sodium) and water, combined in the proportions of about two table-spoonfuls of salt to a quart of lulre warm water. This solution 7 is placed in a shallow earthenware or other suitable non-conducting vessel 8 having a element and permit the latter to lie fiat thereon and to be immersed. in the solution, after which the article or articles to be cleansed are placed uponthe grating 5. An electric battery is thust'ormed which decomposes the water. if the hydrogen, which is then in a nascent state, is allowed to pass ofi through gold or silver 'ware'which is placed upon the copper grating, the hydrogen com bines with the oxids, which appear in the form of tarnish, and removes them, leaving the ware bright and clean, and as the hydrogeri will not combine chemically with the silver or silver ware, the ware will be cleansed without injury.

An important advantage arising from the use of the method herein described resides in the fact that 'an ordinary crockery dish of suitable size may be used with economy to hold the battery element and electrolyte, and that a battery element which is simple and last along time may be used, thus enabling the process to be employed by hotels and own small householders for periodically cleaning silver or gold were withoutthe expensive equipment. Furthermore, a battery element which is durable and not subject to rapid decomposition is provided, and is adapted for use in connection with abet-h which; may be easily prepared, thus providing a/fprocess which may be carried out by any one of ordinary intelligence. Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. An apparatus for cleaning met-alware "comprising an outer. vessel, a shallow traylike receptacle formed of zinc disposed therein, a rack formed of a series of parallel copper bars disposed within the receptacle and terminally connected therewith, said bars having projecting ends forming feet to support the receptacle above the bottom of the outer vessel, and an electrolyte consisting of a solution or sodium chlorid in water contained within said outer vessel and within which said. tray and rack are immersed.

bottom large enough to support the battery 2. in an apparatus for cleaning metal inexpensive oi". construction and adapted to necessity of maintaining an elaborate or ware a shallow tray-like receptacle iorrried In'testimon whereof I affix my signature of zigc and a rack foxl'med ofda selries off 0011- in presence 0 two witnesses. )er ars extendin on itu ina 1 o sald r ieceptacle, said ba s han ing their end p01- 7 JAMES Q tions bent and secured to the receptacle and Witnesses: q

projecting downwerdly therethrough to OTIS A. HALL,

provide supporting legs. JULIA A. HALL. 

